New Owner - head problems

[jerryf609]

Hi Peggie,

I have ordered your book but I know it will take several days to get it.

I am the new owner of a 1983 Catalina 30. Bought it from my brother so I am a little familiar with the boat but now am responsible for everything.

I have the WC Headmate running in the Great Lakes. Currently, the head will not take in lake water for flushing. I know about the flush/dry flush lever and the valve for the thru-hull for the water intake.

Also I discovered a leak but not sure the exact source. There is a small amount of waste accumulating under the v-berth. I cleaned it out shortly after getting the boat back in the water but I saw more there last weekend.

So I'm looking for advice. I can rebuild the unit with the rebuild kit. I suspect that will remedy the waste leak but not sure. And a rebuild will probably resolve the lack of lake water intake, but if not I might find out why in the process.

My bigger question is about possibly replacing the whole rest of the system or not. I'm not sure but it probably is all original. And I figure there have been improvements in designs over the last 26 years. For instance, I don't know if I need to add vent loops beyond whatever may be in place in the system now. Should I replace all hoses? Should I put a strainer on the water intake? Should I consider a new waste tank? Should I add a macerator between the head and the waste tank. I'm not looking to spend a lot of money on it but I want to do it right the first time and get rid of odor problems.

My wife and I are retired and I hope to spend more time on the boat than my brother and I previously did. And my wife prefers to use the head rather than go to the bath house at the slip.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Replace EVERYTHING

Your whole system is in trouble...if it's original, it's most likely just worn out. Rebuilding won't help your toilet much if any...and besides, it's been discontinued. And as for your leak, unless the toilet is in the v-berth, I don't think the toilet is the source of your leak.

You have so many questions--and so do I--that talking makes a LOT more sense than typing...and besides, you want to be able to use the boat this weekend. So send me an email (I'm in all the owner directories) and I'll reply with contact info.

 

[jerryf609]

Re: Replace EVERYTHING

OK, thanks. Email sent.

 

[jerryf609]

I've seen a number of posts about problems, then a lot of suggestions, but too often, the OP never comes back to close the loop and say what they did and how it worked.

I'll try not to do that.

Peggie, thanks for the advice. I received your great book yesterday. Read most of it already.

I bid on a new CW Headmate on ebay last week but did not win it. So I'm going to purchase a Raritan PHC LBA and reuse my current bowl. I'm going to the boat later today and will measure for hoses, then put my order in for everything. I'll post back about progress and results.

Btw, the approx 1 cup of water in the lower area below my v-berth was not waste from the head. Just stinky water. I dried it up and will continue to monitor that area.

I'm also going to clean the Bilge area as you suggest.

Thanks! More later!

 

[jerryf609]

I Still have 2 questions Peggie:

And here's an update: I thoroughly cleaned my bilge area (as Peggie suggests in her book) and that helped a lot. I rinsed it thoroughly and dried the area. I still get a little water dripping in from the stuffing box.

Been busy with family needs the last couple of weeks, but yesterday I ordered the Raritan PHC Lower assembly along with Trident 102 waste lines and new flush and vent lines.

I will put in a vented loop for the flush line.

Q1 - What if anything gets attached at the top of the vent fitting? Is there a smaller tube that vents outside?

Q2 - Should I put a 1.5 inch vent line for the waste line between the toilet and the waste tank? I sail in the Great Lakes, so I do not have (not permitted) a dumping line/thru hull for the actual waste.

Thanks.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Answers to your questions

Q1 - What if anything gets attached at the top of the vent fitting?

There should be an air valve--a one way valve that only allows air INTO a line to break a siphon, nothing out.

Is there a smaller tube that vents outside?

People who don't know there should be an air valve will put a vent line on it...but that's a very bad idea because the diameter is so small that it becomes clogged with sea water minerals and salt very quickly, turning the loop into an UNvented loop that no longer has any ability to break a siphon.

Btw...air valves do require a bit of maintenance and occasional replacement.

Q2 - Should I put a 1.5 inch vent line for the waste line between the toilet and the waste tank?

No...not needed. And btw, the vented loop in your head intake needs to be between the pump and the bowl...it does NOT belong in the line between the thru-hull and the pump. See the illustration in the installation instructions for your toilet.


And finally you said, "I thoroughly cleaned my bilge area (as Peggie suggests in her book) and that helped a lot. I rinsed it thoroughly and dried the area. I still get a little water dripping in from the stuffing box."

And you always will. You'll also have condensation, rain water, wash water, run back from the top of the loop in your bilge pump line... Use a manual dinghy pump and/or a big sponge and bucket to mop it up before the boat will sit, and your boat will smell a lot better for lot longer before you have to do all that bilge cleaning again. Meanwhile, don't forget to clean your shower sump...and then keep it clean by putting a couple of ounces of Raritan C.P. down the drain when it can stand in the sump at least overnight.

 

[jerryf609]

OK, got it. Thanks Peggie. Looking forward to getting this all "ship-shape" again.

 

[jerryf609]

Job done!

Well, I received the new lines and new Raritan head (lower base assembly) and installed them this past week. I'm really glad I replaced the head and installed the vent-line for the flush water. Also replaced the waste line from the toilet to the tank. I'm a happy camper...er ah...boater.

Thanks for your advice and support, Peggie.

To anyone who reads this later, I highly recommend Peggie's book. It's loaded with good info.